Abdullah: We are not out to frame Anwar

PUTRAJAYA: The Barisan Nasional and Umno have nothing to do with the sodomy allegations against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The BN chairman and Umno president denied Parti Keadilan Rakyat claims that the police report against its de facto leader was intended to sabotage Anwar’s political standing.

“I don’t have such intention or plan at all. Yesterday, someone SMSed me (about the report). If that is so, let the police investigate and take appropriate action.

“The police are the ones who will determine whether the report is true or not. It is not something that we can determine. He will definitely deny it. That is common for someone who has been accused.”

Abdullah said the question of whether Umno or BN had concocted the allegations did not arise.

“I do not think Umno or BN will go to that extent to create trouble or do something bad to him. It never crossed my mind to frame him or do something bad to him,”

He said his party colleagues and deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, “would not do such a thing”.

“It never crossed their minds either.”

Abdullah said the complainant in the case was entitled to file the report.

“We cannot stop any person from making a report because that is his right.”

“I am not going to saying anything further. A report has been made, so let the police investigate. I have given no instruction whatsoever,” he said.

Anwar described the report as “sheer fabrication”.

“I believe we are witnessing a repeat of the methods used against me in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress,” he said in a statement read by PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah in Shah Alam yesterday.

A 23-year-old man lodged a police report alleging he was sodomised by the former deputy prime minister last week.

Earlier yesterday, the prime minister launched a “Bumi Hijau” programme in which residents of the federal administrative capital turned a plot of land in Precinct 9 into a vegetable patch.

“Idle land must be utilised for our benefit and that of the country. In the face of inflation and to ease our financial burden, it is only appropriate for us to plant vegetables which we eat daily,” Abdullah said.

He said the Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry and the relevant agencies would assist those interested in planting greens on the land.